How to Apply for Medicare Part A

How do I start my Medicare Part A application for ICHRA (CHOICE)?

Start one official Social Security application for Medicare Parts A and B. Part A eligibility is determined inside that application; Page 12 covers the required Part B selection.

Quick answer

Most Medicare beneficiaries use one secure Social Security application to apply for Medicare Part A and Part B. Start at ssa.gov/medicare, select Apply for myself, and sign in or create a verified Login.gov or ID.me account. The application determines Part A eligibility and then presents the Part B decision. For the benefitbay Medicare + ICHRA (CHOICE) path, you must continue through the application and select Part B on the next page.

Step 1: start in the official Social Security application

Go to ssa.gov/medicare. From the Medicare sign-up page, choose Apply for myself. This opens the secure federal enrollment process; it is not a benefitbay form and you should never enter Social Security credentials, one-time codes, or your Medicare Number in an unapproved channel.

If you or your spouse worked for a railroad or receive railroad benefits, do not start the standard online Social Security application. Contact the Railroad Retirement Board for the correct enrollment path.

Step 2: sign in or create a secure account

You need a verified Login.gov or ID.me account before the Medicare application opens. If you already have one, sign in. If you do not, create one with an email address you can open during the process.

The supplied benefitbay walkthrough uses these steps:

1. Enter the full email address and confirm the verification email.
2. Create a strong password. The deck recommends at least 12 characters and avoiding common phrases or repeated characters.
3. Set up multi-factor authentication. A text message or phone call can be the simplest option; set up a second factor if the system offers it so you do not lose access later.
4. Enter the code sent to your phone. Do not choose “remember this browser” on a public or shared computer.

Account setup and identity verification can take longer than the Medicare questions themselves. Give yourself enough uninterrupted time and use a private device.

Step 3: complete identity verification

Social Security requires the secure account to verify your identity before you can open the application. Have your photo ID, Social Security number, mobile phone, and secure-account password ready. The verification path may ask you to use your phone to take a selfie and photograph your ID, or it may offer an in-person Post Office option. Follow the official instructions shown in your account.

The benefitbay Medicare Team can explain how this step fits your Medicare timeline, but the Medicare beneficiary must complete identity verification and submit their own official application.

Step 4: open the Medicare application from your dashboard

From the my Social Security dashboard, scroll past the retirement, spousal, disability, and survivor sections. Open the Medicare area, review See what you’ll need to apply, then select Start a Medicare application. The application may open in a new tab.

The supplied walkthrough estimates that the application itself takes about 5–10 minutes once you are signed in. Start it as soon as your benefitbay Medicare Team confirms the effective date you need; do not wait until the prior group or individual plan has ended.

Step 5: complete the personal-information screens accurately

The application walks through the following information before the Part B decision:

• Terms of Service, Privacy Act, and Paperwork Reduction Act notices
• Whether your mailing and home address are in the United States, plus language preferences for official notices
• Your name, masked Social Security number, and date of birth already on file
• Place of birth, mailing address, and whether you live at that address
• A 10-digit phone number that Social Security can use if it needs to reach you

Review each answer carefully. The walkthrough notes that a wrong contact number can delay follow-up after submission. If the application shows information that is not correct, use the official process to address it rather than submitting an inaccurate record.

Step 6: protect the filing date—but finish the application

Once you begin the application, Social Security may treat the start date as a protective filing date if it receives the signed application by the stated deadline. The application saves entries as you go, and you may be able to choose Finish later. That protection does not replace submission. Complete the application as soon as possible so Parts A and B can be approved before you need to enroll in Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Part D coverage.

What the Part A result means for ICHRA (CHOICE)

The official application determines whether you are eligible for Part A and whether you qualify for premium-free Part A. Many people are enrolled in Part A at no monthly premium based on their own or a spouse’s Medicare-taxed work history. If you must pay a Part A premium, the benefitbay Medicare Team will include it in the Medicare coverage and ICHRA (CHOICE) payment conversation.

Part A is not the endpoint. For the benefitbay Medicare + ICHRA (CHOICE) path, you must also make the Part B selection described on the next page.